Belize - Political parties

The two major parties in Belize are the current majority United
Democratic Party (UDP) and the People's United Party (PUP). The
UDP, which has been the dominant party since 1993, increased its
representation to 26 out of 29 legislative seats in the August 1998
elections, after which Said Musa succeeded Manuel Esquivel as party
leader and prime minister. Although it won a sweeping victory in the
1997 municipal elections, the opposition PUP held only three elected
seats at the national level as of 1999.

George C. Price dominated Belize's politics after becoming the
country's premier in 1964. At independence in 1981, Price became
prime minister and ruled for three years. The UDP coalition, under
Esquivel's leadership, took 21 House seats in 1984 and ruled
until 1989, when the PUP regained control and Price once again became
prime minister. He called an early election in June 1993, which his
party unexpectedly lost, placing the UDP in a dominant position. UDP
increased its position in the subsequent 1998 and 2003 elections.